Rosalie Carpenter, songwriter and actress, has died

DOWNEY - Rosalie Carpenter, a longtime employee of the Downey City Library who wrote a popular song about the city, died May 26 after a short illness. She was 89.The daughter of a professional cellist, Carpenter played the piano and wrote several songs, including "Set Me Down in Downey," which she penned in 1961 as part of a city contest. The song is often played at the summer concerts at Furman Park. She also dabbled in poetry and stand-up comedy, driving to the Comedy Store and other venues. She was a member of Writers' Workshop West and the Downey Seniors Club, which she enjoyed for many years on Tuesday mornings. An animal lover, Carpenter spent decades participating with many animal welfare efforts and organizations. She had been a vegetarian since the early 1970s. She worked as a librarian at the Downey City Library from 1962-78 and later worked at the L.A. County Office of Education before retiring in 1987. Carpenter was born July 7, 1920, the only child of Arthur and Winifred (Todd) Weighill, in Brighton, England. She grew up there and became a singer, dancer and actor in various theater stage productions in Britain from 1938-51, under the stage name Rosalie Allen. During World War II, she helped entertain troops through the Entertainments National Service Association. She moved to Toronto in 1951 and wrote advertising copy, and on to Highland Park in 1953 and Downey in 1955, where she married William Carpenter Jr. They were married 47 years. They raised sons Roger and Mark, both Downey High School graduates. Rosalie is survived by her sons, Roger and Mark, and grandsons David and Daniel.

********** Published: June 4, 2010 - Volume 9 - Issue 7